Amnesty International recently worked with Cossette to launch the 23rd edition of its “Write for Rights” letter-writing campaign. 

This year’s theme is “writing lights a way out,” and it’s conveyed through three illustrations designed to shine a light on human rights issues. The campaign’s goal is to encourage people to write letters of support and encouragement for others whose fundamental human rights are being violated.

Amnesty International and Cossette worked with illustrator Karolis Strautniekas to create three works of art inspired by human rights abuse victims from around the world: Ahmed Mansoor Al Shehhi who was imprisoned for defending human rights in the United Arab Emirates, the Wet’suwet’en First Nationa who’s opposing a gas pipeline project in its territory in Canada, and activist Justyna Wydrzyńska, who was convicted for defending the right to safe abortions in Poland. The illustrations each feature a central figure in a dark environment, with a letter in hand radiating a beam of light shaped like the tip of a pencil.

“This year, we really focused on creating very strong imaging for the campaign based on the cases that we’re talking about, and on making sure we had amazing media placements,” says Gabrielle Pauzé, director of operations for Amnesty International, Canada Francophone. “We’re focusing on going back to an essence of a more traditional campaign.” 

The campaign will be featured online, on radio and in OOH until the end of December.